Thunder Player Grades: Reserves inspired effort vaults OKC into 5th
PF. Oklahoma City Thunder. CARMELO ANTHONY. D.
2 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers.
Plus / Minus Differential: plus +3
Field Goals: 1 of 8, Three pointers: 0 of 3, Free Throws: 0 of 0
Just like the OKC Thunder hid Anthony on Pau Gasol on the defensive end, so too did Gregg Popovich do the reverse. One would think that would create numerous shot opportunities for Melo, but his lack of early shot attempts spoke to either the offense not looking for him or him not making an effort to cut to receive the ball.
I understand the new system calls for Anthony to take open shots on the perimeter. Yet, I doubt the instructions include him staying planted in a corner. I mean even Alex Abrines and Josh Huestis know they need to move to offer themselves as targets to receive the ball or as decoys.
Granted on one occasion he stood wide open calling for the ball, but on most sets he didn’t do anything.
When a star of Carmelot Anthony’s ilk isn’t scoring at all in a half, his cover is scoring and he produces just two points and a single assist it simply won’t cut it.
Billy Donovan has more tweaks to make in the system and here’s hoping it’s to the ‘actual system’ and not just to his lineups/rotations as per usual.